Saying "Good-bye"....

Saying "good-bye".... I needed a few days to think about this post because I wanted to express the joy of loving a pet and a furry friend less than the loss. So I've been thinking about the early days when we first brought our Chesapeake Bay Retrievers "Annie" and "Spice" home. First of all, we had no intention of having more than 1 dog in a little Cape Cod style home. Things happen. But off we went to a breeder across the Bay Bridge of Maryland to see a litter of new Chessies.

My husband and I sat on the floor in a fenced in porch among a litter of furry, curly brown pups and chose "Annie".  Several weeks later we make the trek back to bring her home.

 all settled...

6 months later

 I went on an estimate for a friend of mine that had a cleaning business and was on maternity leave...

I noticed they had a Chessie like "Annie"

 and I commented that we had one too.

The owner said "Do you want another one?"

My quick reply was "no thanks" with a grin.

To which he said "we have her sister and too many animals for our neighborhood covenant. let me go get her."

He brought up a 6 month old dog they had been tying in their basement 

with a cord from a telephone. Her hind leg had raw, red, infected lines where it had grown into her skin and had been removed.

They had never taken her to the vet and were treating it with a horse liniment.

"Spice" came home with me that day.

"Annie" and "Spice" became sisters of the heart.

They ignored other dogs and cats that arrived.

Shared goodies...

We lost "Annie" to Cancer a few years ago. "Spice" has been plodding 

along doing pretty well for a girl of 16. An old gal.

Early this week she had a stroke and we had to make a decision to "say good-bye" and we did. 

Very sad and we miss her so. But knowing her and "Annie" - pure joy.

They give their love with such enthusiasm. 

Such a Life lesson.

She's wearing her signature red collar. "Annie's" is purple.

 Her tennis balls. Next to her sister.

My friend Sherri will

spread wildflower seeds on their graves again in the Spring.

My brown-eyed girls.

Love, Momma 

Mom's Memories... Joy in my heart!

No Hallmark card or store bought floral arrangement

can replace the memories I have of my sons

when they were growing up.

I just shake my head sometimes.

Broken Noses

 Boo Boos

More sutures on both of them than a baseball.

So many trips to the ER,

my dad was going to give us a

gift certificate!

Sleepovers....

I'm told now that it's better

I don't know what went on.

Hmmm

A Mother's Day when

a cheese omelet

was attempted to be

made in my waffle iron.

We won't go into detail about the

time one of them pooped

in a display toilet in a department store.

Or who sold all the

Christmas cookies I had baked

to his classmates two weeks before

Christmas, leaving me with empty tins!

Their great-grandmother said

"get those boys baptised!"

and I said "I did!"...

which she replied -

"well do it Again!"

 Every year they would

attend a church fair and rummage

sale with their grandparents.

One year they bought me a little

jewelry box and a bunch of vintage brooches.

I wish you could have witnessed

the pride on their faces when I

wore every one of those pins to church

the next day...of course you couldn't see the joy in my heart but it was there too.

Thank you for listening to

my sweet satirical memories!

TWISTED! Any Which Way But Loose!

when i was little my mom would braid my hair into braided heidi like buns on either side of my head, or just braids, a pony tail, a twist, there were bangs, 100 brush strokes a night, many a struggle between mother and daughter, razor like rat tail combs parting the lines between my scalp....uggghhhh

i liked having long hair but i didn't like to do's... i just wanted it to be long... no do's! when i look back at my first grade photo, i laugh at all the toothless freckled funny faces. but no one has a hair do like princess leia of star wars! NO ONE!

the arguments ended long ago - i've had short hair since 8th grade - simple - easy and me - 2 sons so no little girl fun of barrettes, braids, pony tails, puffs, poofs - but now i love the looks. maybe on a granddaughter one day ..i'll be gentle. jennifer

on this Memorial Day weekend...

blessed are the peacemakers

The Kitchen Sink With A Cherry On Top!

when we were kids growing up in new jersey

there was a place about a half hour away from us called "Jahn's"

pronounced "y a n n s".

They were sort of like a deluxe Howard Johnson's of the day.

We went for ice cream.

sprinkles

whipped cream

hot fudge

and a CHERRY on top!

not too BIG a deal you might say ...

HOWEVER....

we ordered something called

THE KITCHEN SINK

scoop after scoop of ice cream

with all the fixings on top

a child's delight

a memory to smile at, Jenn

the picture shown above is NOT anywhere near the size of what I am describing -

envision a punch bowl baby!

There are places I remember...In My Life

There are places, I remember,
all my life though some have changed
some forever, not for better
some are gone,

and some remain
all these places have their meanings
with lovers and friends I still can recall,
some are dead and some are living...
in my life, I've loved them all.

But of all these friends and lovers,
there is no one compares with you.
And these memories lose their meaning
when I think of love of something new.

Though I know I'll never lose affection for people
and things that went before,
I know I'll often stop and think about them.
In my life, I love you more.

Though I know I'll never lose affection for people
and things that went before,
I know I'll often stop and think about them.
In my life, I love you more.

 I'm calling my best friend Pauline (since Kindergarten) to say "I'm so glad we're friends and have shared so many things through over 50 years!". who is your special person? your sister, cousin, friend, mom ? who can you make smile and feel special today? Jennifer

 Hugs to you Pauline, remember Franklin Lakes, the library, elementary school, double dating, raising our kids together, Terrace Lake, Darlington, dances, work,Tupperware parties, making clothes, long dresses, your mom, my mom , your Cadillac, my bug?

Nan - Mom of my heart - red lipstick, perms, bedtime stories, roasted peppers olive oil and crunchy bread, the beach every summer, naps,  the boardwalk at night, salt water taffy, bingo, helping me with my babies, helping me grow up, loving me for who I am. I think of you with a joyful heart because you were on this Earth for 95 years and you KNOW how much we loved you.